THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

Press Release Article

As part of its efforts to enhance the appearance of the World Trade Center site, the Port Authority has partnered with the New York City Department of Transportation to solicit designs from artists for a mural that will cover a portion of the construction fence.

The winning design, which will occupy the Church Street fence between Liberty and Vesey streets, will be printed on vinyl mesh banners and will complement the current wrapping. The contest guidelines call for the mural to incorporate “bold, colorful imagery reflecting the vibrancy of the thriving downtown commercial and residential neighborhood.”

Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “This mural is a small but meaningful step to help improve the quality of life for those who live and work around the World Trade Center site, and will showcase the vibrant, thriving community that exists there today.”

Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said, “This is about making the site more attractive for those who live, work and visit the neighborhood. It is one part of our overall effort to improve the quality of life around the site during the rebuilding.”

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said, “All eyes are on Lower Manhattan as it is rebuilt and revitalized. Bringing public art to this important space will enliven the streetscape, transforming it into an extraordinary place for the local community and for the millions of commuters and visitors who continue to pass through this area as the reconstruction continues.”

The application for the competition can be found at www.nyc.gov/dot. Designs can be submitted until October 1. The mural will be installed in December and remain up until November 2010.

In addition to being part of the Port Authority’s efforts to improve the quality of life in Lower Manhattan during the rebuilding, the design competition echoes DOT’s commitment to enhancing the public realm through streetscape redesigns and innovative initiatives such as its Urban Art Program, which adds public art to New York City’s streets and sidewalks in all five boroughs. Additionally, the project mirrors DOT’s past efforts to engage art communities through competitions designed to provide new ways for people to approach and experience the City’s world-class streets. An example is last year’s CityRacks Design Competition, an international design competition for bicycle parking.

Last October, the Port Authority launched a new World Trade Center Web site - www.wtcprogress.com -- to provide the public with all-inclusive information on the rebuilding. The agency also developed public interim milestones for all Port Authority projects on the site; quarterly reporting; a new Office of Program Logistics to communicate with residents, businesses and other stakeholders; and regular walking tours to collect ideas and suggestions from interested parties. The Port Authority recently began a program under which traffic-control personnel are stationed at key intersections to improve pedestrian flow.

CONTACT: The Port Authority of New York and New JerseyCandace McAdams/Steve Coleman, 212 435-7777New York City Department of TransportationSeth Solomonow/Nicole Garcia, 212 839-4850

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit system; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Port Authority Auto Marine Terminal; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and is a partner in the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project.

New York City Department of Transportation

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) provides for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York. The agency also maintains and enhances the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of City residents, its primary customers. As part of its “World Class Streets” initiative, DOT is committed to enhancing the public realm by transforming ordinary spaces in between buildings-sidewalks and streets, among others-into inviting, vibrant, people-oriented destinations in and of themselves. Launched in October 2008, DOT’s Urban Art Program helps bring that vision to life by working with community-based organizations to install murals, sculptures and other art forms in plazas and on medians, triangles, sidewalks, jersey barriers and construction fences for up to eleven months. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dot.